Axle and method of forming the same.



F. A, BOWER.

AXLE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME APPLICATION FI LED OCT. 26,1914.

1,164,915 Patel med Dec. 21,1915.

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INVE/VZ'OR 414M y W W I JTTOH/VEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND A. BOWER, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIlIGNNR- TO GENERAL MOTORSFOMPANY, 0F DETRQIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AXLE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Dec. 21, 1915.

Application filed October 26, 1914.' Serial No. 868,667.

plify the construction and cheapen the' method of manufacture.

' In the. presentstate. of the art a commontype of axle housing is onewhich isformed.

from two complementary sheet metal stampings which are welded orotherwise secured to each other. struction is that as the gage ofthemetal is uniform it is necessary either to make some parts of greaterthiclmessthan required or to reinforcemparts. lVith the presentconstruction this diliiculty is avoided by forming the central part onlyfrom stampings, vhile the opposite end portions are formedfrom tubesflared at their inner ends for joining the stam nng.

In the drawings: Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal sections througl-i myimproved axle, the planes of section being at right angles to eachother; Figs. 3 and l are similar views of the sta'mpings forming thecentral portion of the axle: and Fig. 5 is a View of the tubular portionwhich is joined to said stampings. i

A is the central portion of the axle formed of com )lementary stampiugsjoined to each other by welding or any other suitable way. .-\s shown inFig. 3}. the joint is in the central horizontal plane. 13 of the axle,but this is not necessary and the sections may be joined in any plane.

are the end portions of the axle, which are formed from tubing. theinner ends be-' ing llared as indicated at l) and the .outerends beingpreferably contracted as at E.- 'lhe flared portions 1) are fashioned tofit theends of the stampings A with an overlapping joint which is weldedor otherwise vsecured. The overlap forms a reinforcement for the axle ata point wliereaddi- An objection tothis conti'onal strength is requiredand does away .with the necessity of any other strengthening means.

An axle housing formed as. described is less expensive to manufacturethan where formed entirely of stampings and also possesses greaterstrength.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Ail axle housing'comprising a central portion adapted to receive thedifferential gearing formed of stamped metal having tapering ends, andend portions for housing the greater portion of the length of the axleshafts formed from tubing slightly flared to fit said tapering endswitlran overlapping joint. U

2. An axle housing comprising a central portion adapted to receive thedifferential gearing formed of complementary sheet metal stampingshaving their edges'joined to each other, and end portions formed fromseamless tubing overlapping and secured to saidstanipings for housingthe greater portion of the length of the axle shafts, the

overlapping portions of the end portions being of slightly greaterdiameter than the remaining portions.

3. An axle housing comprising a central portion adapted to receive thedifferential gearing formed of complementary sheet metal stampingshaving their edges joined together and provided with tapering endportions and end sections formed from seamless tubing slightly flared tofit said tapering end portions and secured thereto,

said end sections forming the housing for i the greater part of thelength of the 'axle shafts.

4. An axle housing, comprising a central enlarged portion formed ofcomplementary sheet metal vstampings having their edges joined andprovided with tapering end portions, said enlarged portion forming ahousingfor the differential gearing, and tubular end sections forhousing the axle shafts slightly fla red to fit over said taperingportions and welded thereto.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' FERDINAND A. BO'WER.

Witnesses (irUY \V. PI-InLrs, A. C. ANDnnsoN.

